University of Iowa College of Law

The University of Iowa College of Law
Established	1865
School type	Public
Dean	Kevin K. Washburn
Location	Iowa City, Iowa, U.S.
Enrollment	420 (2017) [1]
Faculty	43 full-time (2017) [2]
USNWR ranking	36th (tie) (2024) [3]
Website	www.law.uiowa.edu

The University of Iowa College of Law is the law school of the University of Iowa, located in Iowa City, Iowa. It was founded in 1865. ^[4]

History

Co-founder Justice Chester C. Cole

The law school was founded in 1865 by George Grover Wright and Chester C. Cole as an independent law school in the state capital of Des Moines as Iowa School of Law, but it moved to Iowa City and became part of the University of Iowa in 1868. It is the oldest law school west of the Mississippi River. Iowa's College of Law is said to have graduated the first female law student in the nation, Mary Beth Hickey, in 1873. ^[5] The second woman to graduate from Iowa Law was Mary Humphrey Haddok in 1875, who later became the first woman admitted to practice before the U.S. District and Circuit Courts. ^[6] Alexander G. Clark, Jr. was the first African American to graduate from the law school, and his father Alexander G. Clark was the second. The senior Clark was ambassador to Liberia in 1890–1891.

Co-founder Justice George Grover Wright

When the Law Building was built in 1986, the project included a low-rise library, classrooms, auditoriums, moot courts, and administrative facilities. The architect was Gunnar Birkets & Associates and the structural engineer was Leslie E. Robertson Associates. The law library has the second-largest collection of volumes and volume-equivalents and the second or third largest number of unique individual cataloged volume and volume-equivalent titles among all law school libraries. ^[7] It contains more than one million volumes and volume equivalents and is one of the largest and finest collections of print, microform, and electronic legal materials in the United States. ^[8]

For more than 30 yrs, the law school has sponsored "Bridging the Gap," a minority pre-law conference held at the law school. ^[9] It participates in, and supports, CLEO and PLSI.

The Boyd Law Building is located in the center of the campus on a bluff overlooking the Iowa River.

Law journals

The Law School has four academic journals, including the Iowa Law Review , founded in 1915 as the Iowa Law Bulletin. It is a scholarly legal journal, analyzing developments in the law and suggesting future paths for the law to follow. The Iowa Law Review ranks high among the top "high impact" legal periodicals in the country, and its subscribers include legal practitioners and law libraries throughout the world.

• Iowa Law Review, ranked 17th overall law review in Washington and Lee University School of Law's index of legal journals. ^[10]
• Journal of Corporation Law, ranked 4th overall law review in Washington and Lee University School of law's index of legal journals in the area of corporations and associations.
• Transnational Law & Contemporary Problems
• Journal of Gender, Race & Justice

Employment

According to the Iowa College of Law's official 2019 ABA-required disclosures, 89.3% of the Class of 2019 obtained full-time, long-term, JD-required employment within nine months after graduation. ^[11] Iowa's Law School Transparency under-employment score is 5.7%, indicating the percentage of the Class of 2019 unemployed, pursuing an additional degree, or working in a non-professional, short-term, or part-time job nine months after graduation. ^[12]

Costs

The total tuition and mandatory fees for the 2024–2025 academic year are $32,512 for Iowa residents and $53,759 for non-resident students. ^[13]

Notable alumni

• James H. Andreasen (1958), Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court (1987–1998) ^[14]
• Bruce Braley (1983), U.S. Representative (D-IA) ^[15]
• Celeste F. Bremer (1977), U.S. Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, 1985-2021 ^[16]
• Christopher Brown (author) (1991), science fiction writer
• James H. Carter (1960), Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court (1982–2006) ^[17]
• Alexander Clark (1884), U.S. Ambassador to Liberia; successfully litigated Iowa state desegregation case nearly ninety years before Brown v. Board of Education (1954) ^[18]
• George W. Clarke (1878), Iowa governor ^[19]
• Norm Coleman (1976), former U.S. Senator (R-MN) ^[20]
• Bill Crews (1977) Mayor of Melbourne, Iowa (1984-1998); Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner, Washington, DC, (2003-2005,2011-2012); DC Zoning Administrator (2005-2007)^{[ citation needed ]}
• Lester J. Dickinson (1899), U.S. Representative (1919–1931), and U.S. Senator (1931–1937) ^[21]
• Rita B. Garman (1968), Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court ^[22]
• Theodore G. Garfield (1917), Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court (1941–1969), Chief Justice (1961–1969)^{[ citation needed ]}
• K. David Harris (1951), Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court (1972–1999)^{[ citation needed ]}
• John Hammill (1897), served three terms as the 24th Governor of Iowa from 1925 to 1931^{[ citation needed ]}
• William Cook Hanson (1935), Senior federal district judge (1962–1995) ^[23]
• Paul P. Harris, founder of Rotary International ^[24]
• Bourke B. Hickenlooper (1922), former Iowa governor (1943–1945), and U.S. Senator (1945–1969) ^[25]
• Paula Hicks-Hudson, lawyer, Toledo, Ohio Mayor and former Toledo City Council President
• Leo A. Hoegh (1932), former Iowa governor (1955–1957), Director of the Office of Civil and Defense Mobilization, and member of National Security Council ^[26]
• Brian H. Hook (1999), former Special Assistant to President George W. Bush, and senior advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations from 2006 to 2008 ^[27]
• Rachelle Keck, president of Grand View University (2022–), president of Briar Cliff University (2018–2022) ^[28]
• William S. Kenyon (1890), U.S. Senator (1911–1922), and circuit judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (1922–1933) ^[29]
• Nile Kinnick (1940, attended), 1939 Heisman Trophy winner, 1939 Maxwell Award winner, consensus All-American, World War II veteran, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, and 1939 AP Male Athlete of the Year. ^[30]
• Keith Kreiman (1978), former member of both the Iowa House of Representatives (1993–2003) and the Iowa Senate (2003–2011) ^[31]
• Jerry L. Larson (1960), Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court (1978–2008)^{[ citation needed ]}
• Donald P. Lay (1951), circuit judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (1966–2007), Chief Justice (1980–1992) ^[32]
• Ronald Earl Longstaff (1965), Senior federal district court judge (1991–present) ^[33]
• Thomas E. Martin (1927), U.S. Representative (1939–1955), and U.S. Senator (1955–1961) ^[34]
• Edward J. McManus (1942), Senior federal district court judge (1962–2017) ^[35]
• Michael J. Melloy (1974), Federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ^[36]
• Ronald Moon (1965), Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hawaii (1993–2010) ^[37]
• W. Ward Reynoldson (1948), Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court (1971–1987), Chief Justice (1978–1987)^{[ citation needed ]}
• Tom Riley (1952), Iowa politician and trial attorney ^[38]
• Coleen Rowley (1980), Retired FBI Special Agent and Time Magazine 2002 Woman of the Year^{[ citation needed ]}
• Rob Sand (2010), 33rd Iowa State Auditor ^[39]
• Frederick "Duke" Slater (1928), All-American College Football Player, and second African-American municipal judge in Chicago, IL ^[40]
• Bruce M. Snell, Jr. (1956), Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court (1987–2001)^{[ citation needed ]}
• Daniel F. Steck (1906), U.S. Senator (1926–1931) ^[41]
• Roy L. Stephenson (1940), Chief federal district court judge, Southern District of Iowa (1960–1971), and circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (1971–1982) ^[42]
• William C. Stuart (1942), Senior federal district court judge (1971–2010) ^[43]
• Philip W. Tone (1948), Federal judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ^[44]
• Harold Vietor (1958), Senior federal district court judge (1979–present) ^[45]
• Thomas D. Waterman (1984), Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court (2011–present)^{[ citation needed ]}
• George A. Wilson (1907), Governor of Iowa (1939–42), and U.S. Senator (1943–1949) ^[46]
• Charles R. Wolle (1961), Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court (1983–1987) and senior federal district judge (1987–2021) ^[47]
• Dana L. Oxley (1998), Associate Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court ^[48]
• Christopher L. McDonald (2001), Associate Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court ^[49]
• Karin Nelsen (1993), Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer for the Minnesota Vikings ^[50]

Notable faculty

• Austin Adams (1875–1890), lecturer and Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court from 1876 to 1887.
• David Baldus (1969–2011), notable academic in the field of Capital Punishment whose research was a key component in Furman v. Georgia (1972)
• Willard L. Boyd (1954–2022), President Emeritus of the University of Iowa and the Field Museum of Natural History
• Herbert F. Goodrich (1914–1922), co-founder of the Iowa Law Review, and circuit judge for the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (1940–1947)
• Herbert Hovenkamp (1986–2017), expert in Antitrust law
• A. Leo Levin (1919–2015), also law professor at the University of Pennsylvania Law School
• Eugene Wambaugh (1889–1892), introduced the Langdell case method to the University of Iowa Law School, and published the first Iowa casebook

List of deans ^[51]

• George Grover Wright (1865–1868), as co-founder of independent law school based in Des Moines
• William Gardiner Hammond (1868–1881)
• Lewis Williams Ross (1881–1887)
• James M. Love (1887–1890)
• Emlin McClain (1890–1901)
• Charles Gregory (1901–1911)
• Austin Scott (interim; 1911–1912)
• Henry Wesley Dunn (interim; 1912–1914)
• Charles Gregory (second term; 1915–1916)
• Dudley Odell McGovney (1916–1921)
• Henry Craig Jones (1921–1929)
• Eugene A. Gilmore (1929–1935)
• Wiley B. Rutledge (1935–1939)
• Mason Ladd (1939–1966)
• David H. Vernon (1966–1971)
• Lawrence Blades (1971–1976)
• N. William Hines (1976–2004)
• Carolyn C. Jones (2004–2010)
• Gail Agrawal (2010–2018)
• Kevin Washburn (2018–2024)

References

1. "ABA Standard 509 Report - Iowa (2017)" (PDF).
2. "ABA Standard 509 Report - Iowa (2017)" (PDF).
3. "University of Iowa". U.S. News & World Report – Best Law Schools. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
4. "Drake Law or Iowa Law - which is the "oldest law school west of the Mississippi"? — Geoff Wood". geoffreyhwood.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02.
5. "Law School History and Milestones | College of Law - the University of Iowa".
6. "Law School History and Milestones | College of Law - the University of Iowa".
7. Law Library - The University of Iowa College of Law
8. http://www.law.uiowa.edu/library/introduction.php Archived 2011-01-02 at the Wayback Machine , Law Library, University of Iowa
9. "Pre-Law Programs - Prospective Students - the University of Iowa College of Law - College of Law - the University of Iowa". Archived from the original on 2011-01-20. Retrieved 2011-02-04.
10. Washington and Lee University School of Law, Law Journals: Submissions and Rankings, https://managementtools4.wlu.edu/LawJournals/
11. "2019 ABA Placement Summary" (PDF).
12. "University of Iowa Profile".
13. "Costs and Financial Aid for Current Students".
14. "James H. Andreasen". admissions.uiowa.edu/. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
15. "Bruce Braley". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
16. https://ballotpedia.org/Celeste_Bremer
17. "James H. Carter". admissions.uiowa.edu/. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
18. "Alexander Clark". The University of Iowa. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
19. "Ill Few Days in Adel Home; Had 2 Terms". The Des Moines Register. 1936-11-29. p. 17. Retrieved 2024-11-03– via Newspapers.com.
20. "Norm Coleman". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
21. "Lester J. Dickinson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
22. "Rita B. Garman" (PDF). Illinois Supreme Court. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
23. "William Cook Hanson". Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
24. "Paul P. Harris". Rotary International. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
25. "Bourke B. Hickenlooper". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
26. "Leo A. Hoegh". State Library of Iowa and State Historical Society of Iowa. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
27. "Brian H. Hook". 2001-2009.state.gov/. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
28. Keck, Rachelle Karstens (2022). "CV" (PDF). Grand View University. Retrieved 2023-12-24.
29. "William S. Kenyon". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
30. Nile Kinnick
31. "Keith A. Kreiman". Iowa Legislative Services Agency. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
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33. "Ronald E. Longstaff". Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
34. "Thomas E. Martin". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
35. "Edward J. McManus". Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
36. "Michael J. Melloy". Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
37. "Ronald Moon". Star Advertiser. 19 September 2010. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
38. "Tom Riley". .legis.iowa.gov. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
39. Rynard, Pat (2015-09-29). "Rising Star Profile: Rob Sand". Iowa Starting Line. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
40. "Duke Slater". Pro-Football Reference.com. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
41. "Daniel F. Steck". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
42. "Roy L. Stephenson". Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
43. "William C. Stuart". Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
44. "Philip W. Tone". Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
45. "Harold Vietor". Federal Judicial Center. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
46. "George A. Wilson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
47. "Wolle, Charles Robert". Federal Judicial Center . Retrieved December 19, 2022.
48. "Justice Dana Oxley". Iowa Judicial Branch. October 30, 2024.
49. "Justice Christopher McDonald". Iowa Judicial Branch. October 30, 2024.
50. "The Official Site of the Minnesota Vikings". www.vikings.com. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
51. "Law School History and Milestones: Deans". University of Iowa College of Law. Retrieved September 6, 2024.